Nurses can make an incredible difference in the quality of care given to patients all across the country. By educating communities, advocating for patients' rights and offering emotional support in the most troubling of times, nurses don't just help improve patient outcomes, they can literally help change lives.
The Heart of Nursing manifests itself in a variety of ways. As nurses, we develop relationships with patients and their families. We learn about our patients' own interests and preferences. We develop relationships with our coworkers and fellow nursing colleagues.
Such awareness has resulted in the public labelling nurses as heroes. In other words, the public recognises nurses for their courage, bravery, commitment, knowledge, resilience, advocacy and persistence in the face of incredible adversity.
Patient care is not just about the medical aspect of nursing. Patients may experience stress about their conditions, injuries, procedures, surgeries, or recovery. It is important for nurses to treat a patient's physical ailments as well as his or her emotional needs.
What are the Biggest Problems Facing Nursing Today?
- Staff Shortages.
- Meeting Patient Expectations.
- Long Working Hours.
- Workplace Violence.
- Workplace Hazards.
- Personal Health.
Good answers to the question 'what motivates you?'
- meeting deadlines, targets or goals.
- mentoring and coaching others.
- learning new things.
- coming up with creative ideas to improve something, or make something new.
- analysing complex data in order to draw clear and simple conclusions.
- working well as part of a team.
Caretakers enjoy making a real difference in the health and lives of others. And passionate nurses build meaningful relationships with those that they care for. That makes the job rewarding, so it's no surprise that nurses list their relationships as one of the top three reasons they love their job.
A BSN may open more doors and opportunities to the nurse, as it shows the ability to handle increasingly complex nursing responsibilities. Additionally, BSN-prepared nurses typically earn more. Hospitals offer pay differentials and greater opportunities for advancement to registered nurses with BSN degrees.
The truth is, any degree can be difficult, and a BSN is no exception. But that is no reason to stay away from it! If you are hardworking, determined, and truly passionate about helping others, you may find that getting a BSN is easier than you originally thought.
The intent of making BSN qualifications mandatory for nurses is not by any means a new one, as it has been pushed since 1964. Everything indicates that, at one point, BSN education will be a mandatory requirement for nurses in healthcare settings. Getting a BSN degree gives you a leg up in the job market.
In addition to registered nursing, individuals with BSN degrees are qualified for many roles, including:
- Nurse Manager.
- Health Educator.
- Case Manager.
- Quality Coordinator.
- Director.
- Pediatric Nurse.
- Public Health Nurse.
- Critical Care Nurse.
For example, BSN holders often qualify for managerial and leadership positions, and are typically preferred in advanced specializations such as public health nursing, nursing forensics, nurse education, research, case management, and more.
What Can You Expect to Learn in an RN to BSN Program?
- Professional Nursing Role.
- Health Assessment.
- Cultural Competency in Nursing.
- Family Health Nursing.
- Current Trends and Issues in Nursing.
- Fundamentals of Nursing Research.
- Community Health Nursing.
- Nursing Leadership and Management.
What is the average salary for a registered nurse with a BSN?
| State | Per year | Per hour |
|---|
| California | $113,240 | $54.44 |
| Colorado | $76,230 | $36.65 |
| Connecticut | $83,440 | $40.12 |
| Delaware | $74,100 | $35.63 |
The average mean salary for BSN holders is $68,450, while the average for RNs with a two-year degree is $64,500. Much of this increase is because BSN degree holders are often selected over others with the same number of years in the field to be nurse supervisors.
Both nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered nurses (RNs) work closely with patients to monitor their health and provide care for acute and chronic illnesses. Registered nurses need, at a minimum, an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), while nurse practitioners need at least a master's degree.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics display that the average income for registered nurses was $71,000 per annum (May 2015). The current number of employed registered nurses throughout the USA was 2.7 million. The average registered nurse graduate starts at $60,000 salary.
Doctorate Of Nursing Practice
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is now the preferred degree of a majority of hospitals. This degree requires four years of college study as opposed to the two required for an ADN.
How to become one: There are two levels of nursing degrees that can lead to a career as an RN: earning an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or earning a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN program can be completed in as few as 18 months.
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide. If you are still interested in working hands-on with patients, a career as a personal care or home health aide might be right for you.
- Medical Assistant.
- Medical and Clinical Lab Technologists and Technicians.
- Medical Records Technician.
We'll begin our list of nursing careers with the highest paid nursing job.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
- Cardiac Nurse Practitioner.
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner.
- Oncology Nurse Practitioner.
- General Nurse Practitioner.
- Family Nurse Practitioner.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Hourly RN pay rates range from $22-$52, but nurses often need a BSN to reach the higher end of that scale. A 2017 survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) demonstrates one reason why BSN graduates earn more than those with an ADN -- demand for BSN graduates is strong.
One of the easiest ways to explain why a registered nurse makes so much is to think about supply and demand. The higher the demand for highly skilled and trained registered nurses, the more likely they are to receive a higher salary as an incentive to get them to work for the healthcare facility.
Highest Paying States for Nurses with a BSN
- California: Annual salary of $106,950.
- Hawaii: Annual salary of $98,080.
- D.C.: Annual salary of $92,350.
- Massachusetts: Annual salary of $92,140.
- Oregon: Annual salary of $91,080.
As of Jan 14, 2021, the average hourly pay for a RN in the United States is $33.81 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $51.20 and as low as $16.83, the majority of RN wages currently range between $27.16 (25th percentile) to $37.74 (75th percentile) across the United States.
You're headed for a great career, one that's rewarding, challenging, and always exciting. But nursing school is notoriously difficult. Most nursing programs require high GPAs and impressive scores in math, chemistry, biology, psychology, and other demanding subjects. It's also extremely fulfilling.
Top 10 countries with the highest salaries for nurses
- Luxembourg. Average annual salary: $105,749.
- Iceland. Average annual salary: $87,635.
- United States. Average annual salary: $74,250.
- Australia. Average annual salary: $72,271.
- Norway. Average annual salary: $66,647.
- Israel. Average annual salary: $63,541.
- The Netherlands. Average annual salary: $60,253.
- Switzerland.
